- 8 hours ago
اخرج من حياتي يا خائني
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Short filmTranscript
00:03My fiancé's girl best friend stole my student ID, burned through my dining dollars all over campus,
00:08then called me a gold drigger in the locker room.
00:10So I logged into the portal and shut her card off.
00:12That same afternoon, she walked up to the register and got declined.
00:17Three times, in front of the whole lunch rush.
00:20She was dragged to the student affairs deems office for an entire hour for theft.
00:25Then came the all-school notice.
00:27Dominic Ashfield, my fiancé, found out, and said absolutely nocted like it was just another Tuesday.
00:33Then, on my 22nd birthday, Dominic took me to Oak Hall, Westbrook's most exclusive restaurant, and said he'd planned a
00:38surprise.
00:39The table was already set when we arrived, with everything I liked, every dish.
00:43He said he had something special to grab. Be right back.
00:47I waited until the dining room closed.
00:52He never came back.
00:54I pulled out my card to cover the bill.
00:56The cashier scanned it, paused, and slid it back across the counter.
01:01I'm sorry, Ms. Sinclair.
01:02Your card is showing as invalid in the system.
01:06Invalid?
01:06I stared at the card in my hand.
01:08My fingers went cold.
01:09This was the card Dominic had given me right before we left.
01:14After we got engaged,
01:16he'd added me to the Ashford family meal plan.
01:19Every purchase on campus,
01:21charged to the family account,
01:23billed directly to them.
01:25But tonight, right before we walked out the door,
01:27he'd reached into my bag and taken the card.
01:30He'd said, kissing my forehead,
01:33This one's on me.
01:35It's your 22nd.
01:37Dominic wasn't picking up.
01:3912 calls.
01:4012 voicemails left.
01:42The cashier drummed her fingers on the card reader.
01:44Ms. Sinclair,
01:45do you have another form of payment?
01:47We don't do tabs here.
01:49And I'm sure you remember
01:50last month's incident.
01:52I remembered.
01:53Last month,
01:54Dominic's childhood best friend,
01:55Bianca Harlow,
01:56took my dining dollars
01:57and treated her entire Pi Beta chapper
01:59to a $2,000 dinner.
02:00Then went and ran her mouth
02:01in the girls' locker room.
02:02I was a clout haster with a pretty face.
02:04Dominic's gonna drop her the second he's bored.
02:06So I logged into the portal
02:07and killed her access.
02:09The next day,
02:10she stepped up to the register
02:11and got declined.
02:12Once.
02:13Twice.
02:14Three times.
02:15The line behind her
02:16stretched to the door.
02:17Her face went beet red
02:19in front of her sisters.
02:20She never forgave me for that.
02:22Now I stood there,
02:23phone in a death grip,
02:24and my knuckles turned white.
02:27Then the doors swung open.
02:29Bianca walked in,
02:31tucked under Dominic's arm.
02:33Chin up.
02:34Blue eyes,
02:34absolutely glowing with satisfaction.
02:37Behind them,
02:3814,
02:39maybe 15 people.
02:41The entire inner circle
02:42of Westbrook College.
02:44Phi Kippa's executive board.
02:46Pi Beta's social chars.
02:49Every single one of them
02:50was already staring.
02:51Dominic let go of Bianca's arm
02:53and walked toward me.
02:53The light caught his pale blonde hair.
02:55He looked every bit the Ashverned air,
02:57which honestly wasn't far off.
02:58The Ashverns were East Coast old money,
03:00the oldest kind,
03:00and Dominic was their only son,
03:01president of Phi Kapper.
03:02The guy Westbrook was basically built around.
03:04And right now,
03:05he was looking at me in a way
03:05I had never seen before.
03:06Elena,
03:07he said,
03:08low,
03:09measured,
03:10loud enough for every table
03:11in Oak Hall to hear.
03:12You get a real kick
03:13out of sabotaging people
03:14on the low, huh?
03:15Freezing someone's card,
03:16making them stand at a register
03:17and choke in front of everyone.
03:18So,
03:19now you know how it feels.
03:21The room cracked open.
03:22Wait,
03:22is he serious?
03:23It's her birthday.
03:24They've been together three years.
03:25Why would he-
03:25Three years doesn't mean anything.
03:27Bianca's known him
03:28since they were kids.
03:29And Elena?
03:29She transferred from the West Coast.
03:31Nobody can even find her people.
03:33She's here on a scholarship, right?
03:34Like,
03:34a full ride?
03:35That's what you get for clout chasing.
03:37When Dominic's done with her,
03:38she won't even have a seat at the table.
03:39I dug my nails into my palm.
03:42Exactly what I thought.
03:43He'd set this whole thing up.
03:45On my birthday.
03:46Just to get back at me for Bianca.
03:49Dominic walked Bianca to the table
03:50and Nguanga pulled out her chair.
03:53Like I wasn't even in the room.
03:54Bianca.
03:55His voice was quiet,
03:56but the whole room heard it.
03:57Whatever she did to you,
03:58I'm returning it.
03:58Every bit of it.
03:59Bianca's face broke open.
04:00She leaned over
04:01and kissed the corner of his mouth.
04:02Thank you, Dom.
04:03Then she looked at me.
04:04Getting the picture now, Elena?
04:05That account belongs to the Ashford family?
04:06You're not family yet.
04:07What gave you the right
04:08to touch my access in the first place?
04:09She dropped her bag onto the table,
04:11then shoved it.
04:12Hard.
04:13My water glass tipped,
04:14liquid spilled across my shoes,
04:16seeping through the fabric.
04:17She said,
04:18covering her mouth.
04:19Oops.
04:19Slipped.
04:20Sorry about that.
04:21Though those shoes
04:21weren't worth much anyway, right?
04:23Scattered laughter from behind her.
04:25Dominic didn't look at the spill.
04:26Didn't look at me.
04:27He just slipped his arm around Bianca's waist
04:29and looked straight at the cashier.
04:30Whatever Bianca orders tonight,
04:31put it on the Ashford account.
04:32Then he looked at me.
04:33That smirk, wide open,
04:35not even trying to hide it.
04:37As for her,
04:37if she can't pay,
04:38go buy the book.
04:40I stood there.
04:40The room shrank,
04:42inch by inch.
04:43Dominic stood up.
04:44He wanted to make sure
04:45I had nowhere left to go.
04:47He swept the room
04:48with one slow, deliberate look,
04:49then pulled out his phone,
04:51typed something,
04:51and held the screen up
04:52for everyone to see.
04:53The Phi Kappa group chat.
04:55Anyone who helps
04:55Elena Sinclair tonight is out.
04:57All event access?
04:59Gone.
04:59Everyone in that room
05:01knew exactly what that meant.
05:02Cross Dominic Ashvin,
05:04and you were done.
05:05No party invites,
05:06no frat events,
05:08no senior gala.
05:09Full stop.
05:10A few people who actually knew me,
05:11I watched something
05:12flicker across their faces.
05:13One girl actually reached
05:14into her bag.
05:15Bianna caught it.
05:16She stared that girl down,
05:18hard.
05:18The hand slipped back out,
05:20empty.
05:20I looked at Dominic.
05:21Three years of feelings,
05:23gone.
05:23Just like that.
05:25Dominic Ashforth?
05:26You really want to do this?
05:27He held my gaze
05:28without blinking.
05:29When you froze her card
05:31and humiliated her
05:32in front of everyone,
05:33what did you think
05:34was going to happen?
05:35This is your lesson.
05:37Remember it.
05:38She's mine.
05:39Engaged or not,
05:40you don't get to come after her.
05:43She's mine.
05:44Those two words
05:45hit like a knife.
05:46Straight in.
05:47Three years ago,
05:48I just transferred to Westbrook.
05:49Bumped straight into him
05:50on the steps outside
05:51the student union building.
05:52Full collision.
05:53Books everywhere.
05:54He spent the whole next semester
05:56on my case.
05:57Every morning,
05:57he'd be waiting outside my dorm
05:58with an oat milk latte
05:59from the campus cafe.
06:00My exact order,
06:01every time.
06:02On rainy days,
06:03he'd pull off his own hoodie
06:04and drop it over my head,
06:05then sprint across
06:07the entire football field
06:08in just a t-shirt.
06:09When a group of
06:10Pai Bada upper classes
06:11cornered me
06:12in the library hallway,
06:13I don't even know
06:14how he found out,
06:15but he showed up,
06:16walked straight through
06:17all of them,
06:18and put himself between me
06:19and the girl running her mouth.
06:20Looked her dead in the eye
06:21and said,
06:22She's with me.
06:24I was gone after that.
06:25Not because of his last name,
06:27because I actually believed him.
06:29And now he'd just use
06:30those same words for her.
06:31So what's it gonna be?
06:32Bianca's voice pulled me back.
06:34She leaned back,
06:35legs crossed.
06:37You gonna call someone
06:38to bail you out,
06:38or...
06:39She let it hang,
06:41eyes dragging slowly
06:42over my dress.
06:43I felt myself shrink.
06:45Nice piece.
06:46Couture.
06:47Right?
06:48Maybe the boys
06:49can auction it off
06:50right here,
06:52piece by piece,
06:53to cover your tab.
06:54The room lost it.
06:56Dominic really said
06:57this is for Bianca
06:57and meant it.
06:58Elena is cooked.
07:00I told y'all,
07:01Cinderella stories
07:02don't exist in real life.
07:03The Ashvins were never
07:04gonna bring home a girl
07:04with no pedigree.
07:05Bianca's always been
07:06their people.
07:06The higher they build you up,
07:08the harder you fall, sis.
07:09That's just how it goes.
07:11The Phi Keper core,
07:12the ones clustered
07:13around Dominic,
07:14were watching me
07:15with that specific look.
07:17A few of them
07:18already had their phones out.
07:19My whole body was shaking.
07:21Before we'd left,
07:23Dominic had taken
07:23my dining dollars.
07:24On purpose.
07:28Right now,
07:28I had nothing
07:29but the dress on my back.
07:31And my phone had just died.
07:33Battery gone.
07:35That's when it hit me.
07:36My phone.
07:37My card.
07:38The reservation.
07:40The timing.
07:40None of it was an accident.
07:42And to Gerd the Sotrand.
07:44He didn't forget my birthday.
07:47He planned it.
07:49Bianca moved toward me,
07:51smiling like she'd already won.
07:52It's getting late, Elena.
07:54The cashier's waiting
07:55to close out your tab.
07:56Don't tell me
07:57you're actually broke.
07:58Because a tab this size,
08:00if you can't cover it,
08:01this goes straight
08:02to the student conduct committee.
08:04I felt it in my stomach.
08:06The student conduct committee
08:07at Westbrook College.
08:08The one line nobody crossed.
08:10One formal strike,
08:11and I could lose my scholarship,
08:12lose my housing,
08:13get pulled from the honors track,
08:15or get kicked out for good.
08:18Dominic didn't just
08:19want to humiliate me.
08:20He wanted to erase me.
08:24Bianca took another step forward.
08:26Close enough that I could
08:27smell her perfume.
08:28She tilted her chin up
08:29and looked at me
08:30like I was already done.
08:31There is one other option.
08:32That smile ale never moved.
08:34Say please.
08:36Mean it.
08:37Maybe I'll make this
08:37easier for you.
08:39She reached out
08:39and poked my shoulder.
08:42Dom listens to me.
08:44Always has.
08:45I reached up
08:46and blocked her hand.
08:47Just that.
08:49Bianca reacted like
08:50she'd been hit by a truck.
08:52Grabbed her cheek
08:53and screamed.
08:54She hit me!
08:55I watched Dominic's eyes shift.
08:59No, that's not what...
09:00He grabbed my shoulder
09:02and shoved.
09:03Hard.
09:04I went down backward,
09:06caught the corner
09:07of the table on the way.
09:08The pain shot
09:09straight up my spine.
09:10The edge caught my arm.
09:12Sharp, clean.
09:14And I felt the warmth
09:16before I saw the blood.
09:17I hit the floor
09:18and looked up.
09:19Furious.
09:21For just a second,
09:22something moved
09:22across Dominic's face.
09:24Then it was gone.
09:25Elena.
09:26You hit her
09:27in front of everyone.
09:28That doesn't just go away.
09:30Bianca gets that back.
09:31He jutted his chin
09:32at two FICUP members
09:34standing nearby.
09:35Both of them built
09:36like they belonged
09:37on the offensive line.
09:38They grabbed my arms,
09:40one on each side,
09:41and hauled me
09:42off the floor.
09:43Bianca walked
09:44toward me slowly.
09:46My heart mummered.
09:48Not from fear.
09:50From disbelief.
09:51The Ashfords
09:52hadn't always been
09:53East Coast royalty.
09:55Dominic hadn't
09:55always been untouchable.
09:57Because of me.
09:58I was the one
09:59who'd convinced my dad
10:00to use our family's
10:01connections to open
10:02every door for them.
10:03Rivals who would've
10:04gone after the Ashfords
10:05backed off
10:06because nobody
10:07stepped to my dad.
10:08I'd planned to tell
10:09Dominic tonight,
10:10on my birthday.
10:11Tell him I wasn't
10:11some scholarship girl
10:12from the West Coast
10:13with no pedigree.
10:14I was a St. Clair,
10:15the sole eritor
10:16to a West Coast dynasty
10:17that made the Ashterns
10:18look like new money.
10:19I was going to take him
10:20home to meet my family.
10:21I just didn't see
10:22this coming.
10:23I'd read him wrong.
10:23Bianca turned to the table
10:25and picked up a heavy plate
10:26of lobster marinara,
10:28the exact dish
10:29Dominic had ordered for me.
10:30She stepped right
10:31into my space,
10:32raised the plate,
10:33and didn't hesitate.
10:34Splash!
10:35A wet,
10:35sickening sound
10:36echoed across the dining room.
10:38She had flipped
10:38the entire plate
10:39directly over my head.
10:40Scalding pasta
10:41hit my crown.
10:42Thick red sauce
10:42slid down my hair
10:43and clinged to my cheeks.
10:44The empty plate
10:45slipped from her hand,
10:46hitting the hardwood floor
10:48with a sharp crack
10:49and shattering at my feet.
10:50Rich tomato sauce
10:51dripped from my eyelashes,
10:53bleeding rapidly
10:54into the pale fabric
10:55of my couture dress.
10:56I didn't flinch.
10:57I didn't even lift a hand
10:58to wipe my face.
10:59I just dug my nails
11:00into my palm
11:01and looked straight
11:02through the mess
11:02at Dominic.
11:03No anger.
11:05No tears.
11:06Dominic,
11:07this is on you.
11:08When the Ashfords
11:09go under
11:09and everything you've built
11:11comes crashing down,
11:13remember,
11:13you chose this.
11:20Girl,
11:21you've been watching
11:21too many dramas.
11:23Look at you.
11:25Pursed out laughing.
11:26Look at you.
11:27What,
11:27you think you're
11:27some secret rich heiress?
11:29She might actually
11:30be losing it.
11:31Like,
11:31bruh.
11:32Dominic looked at me
11:33like I was wasting
11:34his time.
11:35Cold.
11:36Checked out.
11:37Drop the act.
11:39The Ashford's
11:40going bankrupt?
11:40That's cute.
11:42Figure out how
11:42you're covering this bill.
11:45Miss Sinclair,
11:46it's late.
11:47I got places to be.
11:48I looked around the room.
11:49Every person
11:50who'd sat next to me
11:51in class,
11:51studied with me
11:52in the library,
11:53heads down.
11:54All of them.
11:55One girl,
11:55someone I actually
11:56considered a real friend,
11:57snuck a glance at me,
11:58then looked away
11:59the second our eyes met,
12:00scared of being seen.
12:02Nobody moved.
12:03The Ashfords
12:03ran this campus,
12:04the board of trustees,
12:05the student conduct committee,
12:06the entire Greek council.
12:08And outside?
12:09City Hall,
12:09the banks,
12:10every law firm that mattered.
12:11Cross Dominic Ashford
12:12and you'd cross the entire
12:13East Coast Old Money Network.
12:15I walked toward that girl.
12:16She saw me coming,
12:17shot up from her seat,
12:18and backed away.
12:20Elena,
12:20don't!
12:21I can't help you pay!
12:22I'm not asking you to pay,
12:23I said.
12:24I just need your phone.
12:26Five minutes.
12:26I need someone to come down here.
12:29She's still fronting.
12:30Dom already put the word out
12:31across every frat on campus.
12:33Who's coming to save you?
12:36Let her call.
12:37Twenty minutes.
12:38She still can't cover it.
12:40The dress comes off.
12:43Clock's ticking, princess.
12:45Can't pay up?
12:47Time to strip.
12:51Bianca turned toward the guys
12:53who'd been watching
12:53a little too,
12:54too eagerly.
12:56The girl hesitated,
12:58looked at Dominic,
13:00looked back at me.
13:05Then she held out her phone.
13:09I dialed the number
13:10I knew by heart
13:11but had never once called.
13:13Every second felt longer
13:14than the last.
13:15Less than ten minutes left.
13:17Bianca was done waiting.
13:19She stood up.
13:20I'm such an idiot.
13:22I actually believed you.
13:24Nobody's coming for you, girl.
13:27Hey!
13:27She turned to the cashier.
13:29Have your guys hold her down.
13:30Nobody's risking
13:31the ashrams over this girl.
13:32The guards moved in.
13:34Big.
13:35Mean.
13:36Done with waiting.
13:37I put my hand up.
13:38Wait.
13:39There's still time.
13:40Someone's coming.
13:41Bianca laughed.
13:43Still?
13:44Okay, bet.
13:45Someone walks through
13:46that door in time.
13:48I'll eat everything
13:49on this table.
13:51And I'll step down
13:52from Pi Bita.
13:53The president's seat
13:54is yours.
13:55You sure?
13:56I looked at her.
13:57Everyone in this room
13:58is a witness.
13:59Absolutely.
14:00She didn't even blink.
14:02Something lit up
14:03dappens me.
14:04She had absolutely
14:05no idea
14:05what she'd just
14:06walked into.
14:07With a few minutes
14:08left on the clock,
14:09one of the
14:10Phi Keeper guys,
14:11big, sloppy,
14:12clearly had too much
14:13to drink,
14:15reached over
14:15and grabbed
14:16at my dress.
14:17I smacked
14:18his hand away.
14:19Yo, Dominic!
14:20Your fiancé's
14:21got a temper.
14:22Dominic smiled
14:23and swirled
14:24his wine,
14:25completely unbothered.
14:27She can't fair game.
14:28Have at it.
14:28I stared at him.
14:30Something inside me
14:31went completely cold.
14:33This was my fiancé.
14:35Watching other men
14:36put their hands on me.
14:37And he didn't even flinch.
14:39He caught my eyes
14:40and shrugged.
14:41Don't look at me like that.
14:42I'm not helping you.
14:43I just want Bianca happy.
14:45That was all they needed to hear.
14:47They grabbed me,
14:48arms,
14:48shoulders,
14:49and started pulling at my dress.
14:51I fought back hard.
14:53Every scream
14:54just hyped them up more.
14:55I looked at
14:56every single face.
14:58Every one of you
14:59who touched me,
15:00I remember faces.
15:02Not one of you!
15:03Bianca didn't even look up.
15:05Phone out,
15:05already recording,
15:07waiting to put this
15:07all over the internet.
15:09Time's up.
15:09Take it.
15:11Bang!
15:12The heavy oak doors
15:13were practically
15:13kicked off their hinges.
15:15Every head
15:16snapped toward the entrance.
15:17And the second
15:18they saw him,
15:18the whole room locked up.
15:20Wait,
15:21is that Nathan Thorne?
15:22Why the hell
15:23is the board sheriff here?
15:24Dominic and Bianca
15:25shot to their feet,
15:26completely thrown.
15:27Bianca actually rubbed her eyes
15:29like she couldn't trust
15:30what she was seeing.
15:31Nathan Thorne walked in
15:33wearing a navy blazer,
15:34tie slightly crooked,
15:36like he dressed
15:36on the way here.
15:38President Wiltmore
15:38was behind him.
15:40Mr. Thorne,
15:41President Wiltmore,
15:42what are you doing here?
15:43Nathan didn't look at him,
15:45didn't look at Bianca.
15:46He walked straight to me.
15:48I apologize for the delay,
15:50Miss St. Clair.
15:52Mr. Sterling is on his way.
15:54He asked me to come ahead
15:55and handle things.
15:56He took one look
15:57at my torn dress,
15:59the dirt on my hands,
16:01the cut on my arm.
16:02He swallowed it.
16:03Then he turned around slowly.
16:04The whole room felt it.
16:05He kept his voice level
16:06when he spoke to the President.
16:07Shut this down.
16:08Tonight.
16:09And I want a full explanation,
16:11one I'm actually satisfied with.
16:12Otherwise,
16:12the board will be reassessing
16:13its investment
16:14in West College effect immediately.
16:15The President went white.
16:17Speechless.
16:19Oak Hall,
16:20which 30 seconds ago
16:21had been loud enough
16:22to rattle the windows,
16:23went dead.
16:24The whole room.
16:25Locked up.
16:27Nobody even knew
16:28what they were looking at.
16:29They all knew the name
16:31named Nathan Thorne.
16:32The Ashfords
16:33were East Coast royalty, sure.
16:35But the network
16:36behind Nathan Thorne,
16:37it could swallow
16:38ten Ashford families' hold.
16:42People had always wondered
16:44how the Ashfords
16:44pulled it off.
16:45How a fading
16:46old money family
16:47suddenly rocketed
16:48to the top of the East Coast
16:49in just a few years.
16:50They never knew new.
16:52The answer was me.
16:54When I take over
16:55as the Ashford heir
16:56and rebuild this family,
16:59I'm putting a ring on it.
17:01That's a promise.
17:03I was so gone for him,
17:05I asked my dad
17:06to quietly back the Ashfords.
17:07New contracts.
17:09Big ones.
17:09Every door they needed opened.
17:11And just like that,
17:13they climbed.
17:14I'd been about
17:15to tell him everything.
17:16Then tonight happened.
17:18Nobody whispered.
17:19Nobody moved.
17:20Just blank stares.
17:22Then it hit Bianca.
17:24She flinched.
17:25Like something just clicked.
17:27Went white.
17:29Lips shaking.
17:30She actually...
17:31She actually called someone?
17:33My bet!
17:33No.
17:34No way.
17:34How is the board chair
17:35even friends with her?
17:36That's not possible.
17:37Nobody answered.
17:38Nobody breathed.
17:40The guys who'd been grabbing
17:41at my dress
17:41had already vanished
17:42into the crowd.
17:45Nathan looked straight
17:46at Bianca.
17:47Cold.
17:48The injuries on Miss St. Clair.
17:50You ordered that?
17:52Bianca's knees gave out.
17:53Dominic caught her.
17:55Hey.
17:55I got you.
17:57And just like that,
17:58Bianca straightened up.
18:00Shoulders back.
18:01Right.
18:02The Ashherds run the East Coast.
18:04Even the board answers to them.
18:06Dominic looked at me.
18:08That smirk was back.
18:09I don't know what you
18:10and Nathan Thorne have going on,
18:11but let me be clear.
18:12At Westbrook,
18:13the Ashford's run things.
18:15With all due respect,
18:16Mr. Thorne,
18:17this is a private matter.
18:19Stay in your lane.
18:20At Westbrook,
18:21the Ashford's pull the strings.
18:22Nathan smiled.
18:23Cold.
18:24Practiced.
18:25The kind you can't fake.
18:26Bold words,
18:27Mr. Ashford.
18:28If it weren't for Miss St. Villett,
18:29your family would have been
18:30eaten alive a long time ago.
18:31Everything the Ashford's have today,
18:33she handed that to you.
18:34And you didn't even know it.
18:35Dominic scoffed.
18:37I was done.
18:37Done with the room.
18:38Done with his voice.
18:40Done with all of it.
18:41While Nathan was talking,
18:43I'd already called my dad.
18:44Told him everything.
18:45The Ashford's had no idea
18:47what was coming.
18:48Nathan walked to the cashier
18:49and handed over his card.
18:51Miss St. Clair's tab is on me.
18:52Miss St. Clair?
18:53No more dining dollars.
18:54Your account has been upgraded.
18:56Face ID access only from now on.
18:58No spending cap.
18:59Half the room actually stepped back.
19:02I took the tablet,
19:03confirmed my info,
19:04and looked up at Bianca.
19:06Bianca,
19:07that bet you made,
19:08you remember that, right?
19:09She grabbed his arm,
19:11forcing herself to look calm,
19:12but her voice gave her away.
19:14So what if I lost?
19:15You got the board chair
19:16to show up for you.
19:17You've been playing him
19:18this whole time.
19:19Who the hell did you screw
19:21to get the board chair
19:22to show up for you?
19:23His jaw tightened.
19:24I could see it in his face.
19:26This had gone further
19:26than he meant it to.
19:27He'd wanted to humiliate me,
19:29not lose control
19:29of the whole night.
19:30Elena,
19:31last chance.
19:32Apologize to Bianca.
19:33Do that,
19:33and tonight never happened.
19:34Don't,
19:35and I'm calling off
19:36the engagement.
19:36I smiled,
19:37colder than the room.
19:38You really think
19:39I still want to marry you?
19:40And while you're at it,
19:41call your father.
19:42Ask him how Ashford group
19:43stock is doing right now.
19:45His eyes sharpened.
19:46He pulled out his phone.
19:47Is she actually losing it?
19:48The Ashfords would never...
19:50The laugh died in her throat
19:51because his screen lit up
19:53with an internal family alert.
19:54The air stopped moving.
19:56His fingers froze mid-air.
19:58He called his father.
19:59Dad,
19:59what's going on?
20:00Why are we dropping?
20:01You absolute idiot!
20:03You crossed the St. Clairs,
20:05didn't you?
20:05The St. Clair family,
20:07West Coast.
20:07Every fund they controls
20:09is shorting us right now.
20:10All of it.
20:11If this doesn't stop,
20:12Ashford group files
20:13for bankruptcy in three days.
20:15St. Clair.
20:16The name hit the Oak Hall
20:18like a grenade.
20:19The arrogant sneers vanished,
20:21replaced by sheer terror.
20:24The St. Clairs weren't just old money.
20:27They were the kind of name
20:28that made the Ashfords look new.
20:30Bianca's smile dissolved.
20:32The color drained from her lips.
20:35Dominic's hand started shaking
20:37around the phone.
20:38Dominic snapped his head up
20:39and looked at me.
20:40And for the first time all night,
20:42fear.
20:43You...
20:43You're actually...
20:46I smoothed out my dress.
20:48The one they'd grabbed at.
20:51Slowly.
20:52Nathan stepped forward.
20:55Composed.
20:56Respectful.
20:57Get the names of every student
20:58in this room
20:59who touched her or participated.
21:01The Student Conduct Committee
21:02will be calling their families
21:03first thing tomorrow morning.
21:06She wanted a public humiliation?
21:08Fine.
21:09I gave her one
21:10she'd never recover from.
21:11That's how old money plays it.
21:13Before Nathan even finished speaking,
21:16hurried footsteps echoed outside.
21:18Then the doors flew open again.
21:20Edward Ashford stumbled in.
21:21Shirt untucked.
21:22Tie loose.
21:23With several stone-faced
21:25family aides behind him.
21:26His eyes swept the room.
21:27The mess on the floor.
21:29The cut on my arm.
21:31One look at Dominic
21:33and Edward looked like
21:34he could have killed him
21:35right there.
21:36Edward's shoulders slumped.
21:37The arrogant billionaire
21:38practically shrunk
21:39in front of me.
21:40His hands shaking slightly
21:41as he stepped forward.
21:43Miss St. Clair,
21:44my son is an embarrassment.
21:46The Ashford family
21:47owes you a formal apology.
21:49Please,
21:49let us make tonight right.
21:51The butler stepped forward
21:52and opened a velvet box,
21:54pink diamond necklace,
21:55the Ashford family heirloam.
21:56Mr. Ashford,
21:57that's not necessary.
21:59Edward didn't even flinch.
22:00I glanced at it.
22:01I just want what you took
22:02from me tonight.
22:03My dignity.
22:04Edward's expression hardened.
22:05He looked at Bianca
22:06still crumpled on the floor,
22:08then back at his son,
22:09like he couldn't believe
22:09what he'd raised.
22:10Dominic,
22:11I have never been more ashamed
22:12of you in my life.
22:13You turned on your own fiancé
22:15with outsiders.
22:16How am I supposed to trust you
22:17with this family after tonight?
22:18Edward swung.
22:19His knuckles connected
22:20with Dominic's jaw.
22:22Dominic hit the floor,
22:23tasting blood,
22:24but didn't dare make a sound.
22:26Effective today,
22:27you are no longer
22:28the Ashford heir.
22:29I'd sooner leave everything
22:31to a kid I've never met
22:32than hand it to you.
22:33He turned to Bianca.
22:35And the Harlow family,
22:37every West Coast partnership
22:39is done.
22:41See how long you last
22:42without us.
22:43Bianca dropped to the floor,
22:45grabbing at Dominic's
22:46pants leg,
22:47sobbing.
22:48Dominic,
22:49please!
22:50If my dad finds out
22:52about this,
22:52I'm dead!
22:53I am so dead!
22:55Dominic looked down at her.
22:57Something moved
22:58across his face.
22:59Complicated,
23:00distant,
23:00with his entire inheritance
23:01on the line.
23:02Whatever this was
23:03didn't matter anymore.
23:05Bianca,
23:06you ruined me.
23:09She completely fell apart.
23:10Edward turned back to me.
23:12He helped Dominic up,
23:13carefully,
23:13and pushed him toward me.
23:15Miss St. Clair,
23:15my son knows he was wrong.
23:17He let Bianca manipulate him.
23:18You're above this.
23:19Please,
23:20give him one more chance.
23:21Whatever it takes.
23:22Name it.
23:22He will spend the rest
23:23of his miserable life
23:24making this up to you.
23:25Dominic looked up at me.
23:27His eyes were full,
23:28like he was one word
23:29away from breaking.
23:30Elena,
23:30I'm sorry.
23:31I was wrong.
23:32I was so wrong.
23:33I never should have doubted you.
23:34Never should have let her
23:34lay a hand on you.
23:35Just forgive me,
23:36please.
23:36We'll get married.
23:37I'll make this right,
23:37I swear.
23:38He reached for my hand.
23:39I turned away before he could.
23:40I looked at his face.
23:41No hate.
23:42No tears.
23:43Just quiet.
23:44The kind that comes
23:44after something dies.
23:45You know what actually
23:46destroyed me?
23:47When I spoke,
23:48the whole room
23:48heard every word.
23:49Not the slap.
23:50Not any of it.
23:50It was when they had me
23:51pinned down and you
23:52looked me dead in the eyes
23:53and said,
23:53I just want Bianca happy.
23:55I meant less to you
23:56than her ego.
23:57Love runs out.
23:58You burned through
23:59all of mine tonight.
24:00I took one step back.
24:02Nathan was already beside me.
24:03I turned,
24:04unhurring.
24:05I'm not interested
24:06in the Ashford future anymore.
24:07And us?
24:09We're done.
24:10Bianca stood in the middle
24:11of the room
24:11like someone had cut
24:12her strings.
24:13Then,
24:15the doors opened again.
24:17The air changed.
24:19He walked in
24:19wearing a dark green
24:21varsity jacket
24:22with the St. Paul's crest
24:23stitched over the chest.
24:25Half a head taller
24:26than Dominic.
24:27Broader.
24:29Jawline like something
24:30out of a Renaissance painting.
24:31He didn't look at Dominic.
24:33He walked straight to me,
24:35glanced down at my wrist,
24:37and frowned.
24:39You're bleeding.
24:41He pulled a perfectly
24:42folded white handkerchief
24:44from his pocket
24:45and pressed it gently
24:46against my wrist.
24:49Then,
24:50only then,
24:52he turned
24:53and seemed to notice
24:54Dominic for the first time.
24:55Ah,
24:56you must be Ashford.
24:57He extended his hand,
24:59but not to shake.
25:01He just casually
25:02straightened his cufflinks.
25:03Sebastian Sterling.
25:05Elena and I grew up together.
25:07She transferred here.
25:08The corner of his mouth lifted.
25:11To get away from me.
25:12Like it was an inside joke.
25:15Looks like she trusted
25:16the wrong family.
25:17Dominic's lips were trembling.
25:19Sterling?
25:20You're a Sterling?
25:21He finally looked
25:23at Dominic directly.
25:24No.
25:25I'm the one
25:25who's going to pull
25:26every Sterling capital asset
25:28from your father's
25:29next board vote.
25:30He turned,
25:31and his arm settled
25:32around my waist
25:33like it belonged there.
25:34Let's go, Elena.
25:36Your father's plane is waiting.
25:37At the door,
25:38he stopped,
25:39didn't turn around.
25:41One more thing, Ashford.
25:43That plaque by the entrance?
25:45Ashford Family Banquet Hall?
25:47You should take it down yourself.
25:50The crew we send
25:51to remove it
25:52will charge you
25:52for the trouble.
25:55He followed me out.
25:56I could hear him.
25:57The uneven footsteps,
25:59the way he was
25:59half running,
26:00half stumbling.
26:01Elena!
26:02I stopped,
26:03didn't turn around.
26:04Elena, I had no idea.
26:06I swear,
26:06I had no idea
26:07you were a St. Clair.
26:08If I'd known from the start...
26:10Then what?
26:11Looked him dead in the eyes.
26:13You would have treated me better?
26:15He opened his mouth.
26:16Nothing came out.
26:17Or,
26:18if I were still
26:19just the scholarship girl,
26:21would all of that
26:21have been okay?
26:23Freezing my meal plan?
26:25Letting Bianca slap me?
26:27Letting those guys
26:28tear my clothes off?
26:29No,
26:30that's not what I meant.
26:31Then what did you mean, Dominic?
26:33Silence.
26:34Sebastian stood behind me.
26:35No rush,
26:36just waiting.
26:37Arms crossed,
26:38like he had all night.
26:40Dominic,
26:40listen to me.
26:41I built the Ashford's up.
26:43I can tear them down
26:44just as fast.
26:46We're done.
26:47As of right now,
26:49I turned and took
26:50Sebastian's arm.
26:51Tell no,
26:52it's...
26:55Let's go.
26:56Behind me,
26:56Dominic's voice
26:57came out horsey,
26:58broken,
26:59like he was already crying.
27:01Elena,
27:01if none of this had happened,
27:03if I hadn't let Bianca,
27:04would you have ever
27:05brought me home?
27:07Introduced me
27:08to your family?
27:09I didn't answer.
27:11There was nothing
27:12left to say.
27:14Some questions
27:15don't deserve one.
27:20The Oak Hall doors
27:21closed behind us.
27:22The hallway was quiet,
27:24just our footnaps.
27:27Your taste in men
27:29is awful.
27:31Shut up.
27:32I'm being serious.
27:33What did you even
27:34see in that guy?
27:36Sebastian.
27:37Yeah?
27:38Thanks for coming.
27:39He didn't say anything
27:40for a second.
27:41Then he reached over
27:42and messed up my hair.
27:43Stop running from me.
27:45There are plenty
27:46of good schools
27:46back home,
27:47you know.
27:47I didn't say anything
27:49but I smiled.
27:51First time all night.
27:53Come on,
27:54let's go home.
27:56Nice.
27:56Come on.
27:58I'm doing great for the
27:58ave.
27:58Here we go.
27:59That so long.
27:59It's great for
28:00Joanne.
28:01Here we go.
28:01You're welcome.
28:01Austin.
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